Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

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Hunting

Checking Deer at a Check Station


Step 1:  Immediately upon taking a deer, and before moving game, the hunter must remove a deer tag from his license and fill out the required information legibly in ink. The tag must be securely fastened to the ear or antler of a deer. The tag must remain on the deer until final processing and storage by the hunter.

Disability and 65 plus Lifetime License holders, resident and non-resident hunters under 16 and Mississippi license holders hunting under the Reciprocal Hunting License Agreement must immediately, upon taking a deer, remove and fill out the game tag provided in the hunting guidebook legibly in ink. You may substitute a piece of paper for this tag if it includes the hunter’s name, the date, time and zone number, written legibly in ink, from which the deer was taken. 
 
Click here to download a printable version of the game tag
  • If a deer was killed, refer to the deer zone map and fill in the appropriate number in the zone column.
  • If a turkey was killed, refer to the turkey zone map and fill in the appropriate number in the zone column.
  • If a deer or turkey was killed on a WMA, use the WMA zone number.

Step 2:  Within 24 hours of taking a deer or turkey, check (your own) game at a designated wildlife check station, at a designated deer camp, with an AGFC employee or log on to AGFC online checking.   Members of deer camps in the Check Sheet Program must check deer on Camp Check Sheets within 4 hours. Entrails may be removed but evidence of the animal’s gender must remain. Deer may be quartered in the field, but the head must be retained with the remainder of the carcass. No big game animal may be transported across statelines prior to being properly checked, unless normal travel routes require said hunter to cross a state line in direct route to an official wildlife check station.
 

Step 3:  Validation

The check station number will be recorded on the game tag.

Step 4:  Notice of Transfer

If you choose to give away all or a portion of your game to another person, you are required to supply that person with the following information in writing: your name, address, type of game, number of animals, date of kill and your hunting license number. This requirement applies to deer camps and commercial processing or storage facilities.


Checking a Deer on the Internet


The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission offers online deer checking. To check your game online, click on the hyperlink below. To learn more about this process, please read the following information.
 

Easy Online Checking Steps:

  1. Log on to AGFC online checking.
  2. Enter your name, date of birth, email address and if applicable, CID number (what's a CID number?).
  3. Enter the date of kill and select the game type (deer or turkey).
  4. Select the Zone or WMA where the game was harvested.
  5. Select the County in which the game was harvested.
  6. Select the Method used to harvest the game.
  7. Complete information concerning your game, for example deer or turkey sex.
  8. Confirm and/or change your information and submit to AGFC.
  9. A confirmation e-mail will be sent for your records if you provide your email address.
  10. Write the online check number on the back of your hunting license in the Station # column.
The computer takes the place of the check station. This option is not available for those Wildlife Management Area permit hunts that require checking game at locations stated on the permit. 

After completing Step 1 (above), proceed to Step 2. Within 24 hours of taking a deer or turkey, go online and follow the instructions from the website. Before taking carcasses to be checked, entrails may be removed but evidence of the animal’s gender must remain. Deer may be quartered in the field to prevent spoilage due to difficulties resulting from large animals taken in remote areas. If quartered, leave the head with the remainder of the carcass.

Step 3: The online web site will provide information to you.

Step 4: Same as Step 4 above.

If you have questions about checking game online, contact 1-800-364-4263 extension 6430. 

Find a Checkstation

 
If you need to find a checkstation in your county, click here.
 
Checkstation List by County